Tag Archives | Fiskars

Our designers just love to make cards from coordinates! Here’s another card created from patterned paper that was pre-coordinated in a collection, this time from docrafts’ Papermania brand.

And there’s plenty of space on this card for the eye to rest, but it is still anything but boring. The combination of designer Sharon Callis’s simple design and the light airy feeling patterned papers make this card easy on the eyes. It can be tempting to load cards up with embellishments to make them feel finished, but sometimes just a bit is enough.

Because even though this card is simple, it’s far from plain. The thoughtful details give plenty of interest to look at. The dual border of the banner paper and the Webster’s Pages Bloomers creates horizontal movement, and the rounded corners and decorative border are subtle but really step the design up a notch.

Sharon Callis lives in Ireland and has been a crafter for over twenty years. In 2011, Sharon was named ‘Cardmaker of the Year’ by Cardmaking and Papercraft/ Quick Cards made Easy’ Magazines in the UK. Sharon’s work has been featured in publications such as Creative Cardmaking, Papercraft Essential, Create and Craft TV, Cardmaking and Papercraft as well as on various craft companies Facebook pages and blogs. She currently designs for Xyron, gel-a-tins and Little Yellow Bicycle. In addition to her passion for papercrafts, Sharon also likes to do a wide variety of crafts: knit, sew, cross stitch, machine embroider, plastic canvas, costume design, woodcraft, dollshouse miniatures, sketching, home decor, model making and baking. To learn more about her,visit her blog.

Wait, is that a 10 at the start of this month’s date in the title? Holy cow, the year is going fast! October means mid-releases, and the holidays coming fast!

Speaking of the holidays, Carta Bella Paper Company is having a contest to see what scrapbookers can create with its Halloween-themed “All Hallow’s Eve” collection. Upload your creation to the Carta Bella Facebook page by October 8th at Midnight MDT and you could be one of three lucky winners of the Carta Bella collection of your choice from their currently shipping selection. Winners will be selected on October 9th.

In another sign that border punches have become the new tool battleground in the industry, Fiskars has announced a new border punch system called the AdvantEdge Punch System.

CHA might not be for seven more weeks, but manufacturers are not waiting for the show to release exciting new products and debut new lines. In fact, the current trend is to release product year-round instead now! I’m not complaining – I am enjoying a more steady stream of new products. This week, Noteworthy features three new product line announcements, as well as some creative ideas that took me by surprise.

With the beautiful bold patterns and designs, many crafters struggle to figure out where to cut it or how to use Webster’s Pages patterned paper. They are beautiful and over the last few years have definitely been among my favorites, but their surprising new announcement has me excited, and I believe other scrapbookers will feel the same. Webster’s announced this week that they are creating something new – Clean & Simple papers will be “dedicated to a cleaner, simpler version of Webster’s Pages.”

And no, this isn’t a one-time deal. ALL of our new collections will have a corresponding Clean & Simple paper line, the perfect complement to Classic Webster’s. So instead of having 6 papers per collection…we’re now having 12 papers per collection {6 papers Classic Webster + 6 papers Clean & Simple}

I do not think it is only clean & simple style scrapbookers who will enjoy and appreciate this addition to their lines. This takes out a lot of the intimidation factor of Webster’s Pages’ papers, stretches the usefulness of their lines, and gives crafters more options. I look forward to seeing their new release (Sunday Picnic) which should arrive in stores in January, as well as how this new development adds to their future lines. Continue Reading →

Having the chance to sit down and make projects with a manufacturer’s “latest and greatest” allows CHA attendees to see first-hand why they need what the manufacturers are selling. For retailer attendees, there is another benefit – to bring home creative samples to display using the product that will soon be in their store. For educator/demonstrator members of CHA, make-and-takes not only provide some hands-on time with new products, but a chance to work with a company’s designers to learn specific tips and techniques.

Betsy Burnett of Scrapbook Update and Wendy Russell of "She's Crafty" making a felt clutch purse at i love to create

At some companies’ booths at CHA Winter 2011, their make-and-takes were offered in sort of a classroom setting, with attendees even needing tickets to attend. Prima Marketing sent out email invites to retailers a couple of weeks before the show offering sign-up for a full assortment of classes from altered canvas bags to mini albums. Pink Paislee did something similar issuing email make-and-take tickets to attendees a week prior to the show, as Rebecca Cross (owner and creative director of Pink Paislee) explained: “Although there were some people who didn’t make their time slot, it was still a very successful way for us to make sure the make-n-take time slots would be filled and it kept store owners from having to stand in long lines during a busy show.”

One of Pink Paislee's five different make-and-takes (photo courtesy of Pink Paislee)

At those companies that didn’t require tickets, attendees normally had a bit of a line to wait in. Most lines, however, appeared to be less than a 10 minute wait. Projects ranged from mini albums (created using the Creatopia system by Xyron), to stamped pendants (at Rubber Stamp Concepts). One popular stop for attendees, Bottle Cap inc, was making a bottle cap necklace project and long time CHA make-n-take favorite Quick Quotes was creating decorated canvases.

"Family" canvas make-and-take from Quick Quotes

Some make and takes showcased a new line or concept. At Bo Bunny attendees were met with a table full of elements from the company’s “Crazy Love” card kit and given the chance to create a valentine or two for their sweetheart. Best Creations showcased their St. Patrick’s line – there attendees had a chance to take home a 12 x 12 page ready to add photos onto.

Bo Bunny "Crazy Love" card kit make-and-take

Many companies worked together to showcase their products. Unibind and Fiskars worked together to create mini albums, using Fiskars punches to decorate the pages and the Unibind system to bind the mini purse albums. Also at the Fiskars booth, Simplicity/Burda was there making a fabric bracelet using Fiskars scissors and Spoonflower fabric.

Ever popular with attendees are what could be called the “free for all” tables. Here attendees were given a “base” for their project and an assortment of other trinkets and treasures to create with. At the Everything Mary booth, attendees were given a choice of catch all and then told to have fun decorating. Gemstones, flowers, foam and felt shapes and a hot glue gun were all provided to create a finished tote. At Westcott, attendees could decorate their own scissor holster in a similar manner. At the Tombow booth, there was a full assortment of their dual brush pens along with some simple instruction on ways to use the pens on an embossed tag. The i love to create booth featured several of these types of projects as well, including reusable lunch bags that became a canvas for a variety of painting techniques.

A zentangle inspired lunchbag from i love to create

On the last day of the show, Ranger Ink designers did something a bit different for their “make and take.” Instead of having a project for people to do, they provided attendees with their full range of ink colors to make swatch cards of several of their most popular lines, including the new Distress Stains from Tim Holtz. During the make-and-take, Holtz was in the booth talking to people about the product and signing the swatch cards for retailers to display in their stores. In answer to the question, “why swatch cards?”, Holtz explained: “By this point in the show most of us retailers, manufacturers, everyone… is tired and their brains are suffering from “crafting overload.” Who needs to do a project when you are like this? Creating a swatch gives retailers a tool to take back to the store with them. When customers ask “how dark is this color” they won’t need to open up stock to give an idea as to the actual color.”

Tim Holtz creating swatch cards at Ranger

So…would you like to win an assortment of make and takes from CHA? We have an assortment of finished projects and kits to create with to give away!

How To Enter: All you have to do to be one of the lucky winners is leave a comment on this entry before Midnight U.S. eastern time on Sunday night, April 3rd. Make sure you include your email address in the line reserved for it on the comment form (for your own protection, don’t put it in the text of the comment, where it will be visible to the public – just in the line labeled “email” in the form where only Scrapbook Update staff can see it). We will need it to notify you if you are a winner. Winners will be drawn by random drawing from all eligible entries. One entry per person. U.S. mailing addresses only please.

The lull between shows is a great time for manufacturers to refresh their design teams and several manufacturers have calls out right now for new design teams! Here’s a summary of the calls, arranged by due dates:

French-based stamp company Stampavie is looking for four designers for their design team. Design team applicants must have a blog, be willing to supply a minimum of four projects per month to Stampavie, and also be willing to provide physical projects for use in trade show booths and for other purposes. Team members are not restricted from doing other design team work. Stampavie will provide its team members its future collections for free.

Applying for the team is simple – applicants are requested to post a link to their blog in the comments of the Stampavie design team call page. The deadline for applying is midnight GMT on April 9th.

The company known for their textured cardstock is looking for 8-10 members for their design team. The call is for a one year term on the team, to begin in May 2011.

Core’dinations Design Team members will receive free Core’dinations products, and payment for publications and trade show/catalogue work. The design team’s required work includes providing 3 projects/month for the company’s blog, submitting projects for publication and promoting the company on the designer’s personal blog, and completing projects for exchanges with Core’dinations partner companies.

To apply for the Core’dinations team, applicants need to create a post on their personal blog that includes three projects focusing on Core’dinations products, and supply the link to that post to Core’dinations. The application deadline is April 15th at 4pm EST. For more information and full application instructions, visit the Core’dinations design team application page.

This is the first time that Fiskars has held an open call for its Craft Design Team. They are asking for papercrafters, sewers and quilters with excellent writing and photography skills. The call is hiring designers for a one year term on the team that begins June 1st, 2011. Successful applicants will be required to “Refrain from participating on other design teams or work for any other tool manufacturer that is in direct competition with Fiskars Brands, Inc.” Specifics of compensation will only be revealed to finalists for the team.

The call is requesting a complex application, including the submission of 3 projects. One project is to be accompanied by a step-out, one is to be accompanied by an article of explanation, and one sample project is supposed to be an example of a “unique and innovative” tool use.

Kaisercraft is looking for for a large number of people – 12 contributing design team members and 3 community team members. The term of service is for a year, beginning in July 2011. Design team members will receive Kaisercraft product, and compensation for published projects. Kaisercraft is seeking design team members that can create a wide range of papercrafting projects, and that have solid writing and photography skills, and the ability to create step-outs and materials lists.

To apply, designers need to post an entry on their personal blog containing at least 8 projects containing Kaisercraft products. From these applications, 25 finalists will be chosen to move to a 2nd round of the selection process. The deadline for applying is midnight AEST on May 1st, 2011. For more information and application instructions, visit the Kaisercraft design team application page.

Editor’s Note: A lot of attention is paid to what is new and different at CHA. Extensions of existing product lines can generate a less exciting reaction, as buyers think that the products aren’t “really” new, or that they’ve seen that before. But for loyal fans of a product, new options in that line can generate almost certain sales for manufacturers and retailers. Bottom line: Adding new SKU’s to existing product lines may not be “sexy” and generate headlines, but it sure can be profitable.Join May as she takes a look here at some reliable product lines that are adding on.

While I love brand new ideas and products, there’s something to be said for getting another helping of an existing favorite. In viewing all of the sneak peeks of products to come, I’m happy to see some products that were favorites of mine at the last CHA being extended with new designs.

Today I will share five of my favorite items that I’m excited to get another helping of.

Core’dinations makes cardstock cool, and the embossed designs of their Core Impressions line has made them a favorite selection of mine in the past. This show they’ve revealed both Graphic 45 and Stacy Julian as new partners in their great cardstock packs. Combined with the existing Jenni Bowlin [Scrapbook.com], Jillibean Soup [Scrapbook.com], and Cosmo Cricket designs, the pattern and color options continue to dazzle me.

I recall a few years ago when Fiskars border punches were all the rage of the show – the Threading Water [Scrapbook.com|Two Peas|Amazon.com] punch was in such high demand it was nearly impossible to get one for months. Apron Lace [Scrapbook.com|Two Peas|Amazon.com] and Upper Crest [Scrapbook.com|Amazon.com] were more designs that were super hot, and all of these designs are ones I still use today. Fiskars released several new must-have designs at CHA Summer 2010 (such as Postage Stamp, Notebook, and In Stitches) at this show, and I’ve already begun looking out for them!

Pink Paislee came out with Artisan Elements at the last show, made from a unique flexible material that is just amazing. I did a review, and I even said that I hoped for more designs. Well, it looks like my wish is about to be answered – they have released new (and bigger) designs including the one pictured above.

Tim Holtz released too many good things to count at CHA Summer 2010, but one item that caught my eye was a new set of Accoutrements – vintage inspired buttons that I’m already anxious to add to my stash! The set currently available [Scrapbook.com|Two Peas] is a favorite of mine, and I’m thrilled that I’ll be adding more to my collection.

Websters Pages is a favorite of mine, and since I love buttons, their vintage [Scrapbook.com|Two Peas] and round sparklers [Scrapbook.com|Two Peas] were a top pick from the winter show. So imagine my glee when I heard that they’re releasing more colors! I am pacing the floor in anticipation of getting my hands on all of these!

These are just five of my favorite things that are returning and adding new options – there are so many wonderful things to come. Do you have a favorite item that is coming back again? Please feel free to share!